I woke up to the sound of my alarm, a loud high pitched noise that could wake a vampire from his sleep. And like I a vampire, I rose from my bed, mentally hissing at the sun. I turned off the alarm and checked the time. 09:12. I went to the bathroom, nearly tripping on the bags of clothes I bought, and took a shower. Even though I was going hiking, I didn't want to look bad. I washed my hair and blow dried it when I got out, leaving it soft and poofy. I braided it down my back and dressed it with Spf-hairspray, to protect my hair from the sun. I pulled on a pair of green cargo shorts and slipped into a thickly woven button down shirt, and finally I pulled on thick socks and hiking boots. I grabbed my backpack from my closet and filled it with sunscreen, water and cigarettes before loading it on my back, ready for a hike.
I started my journey through the large forest, having no need for a map as I had been there many times before. I climbed the small hill towards the tree line, already spotting small lizards sunbathing on the rocks. When I reached the trees, I stopped and took a deep breath, ready to begin my walk through the beauty of nature. The sunlight filtered through the treetops, creating a golden glow and giving the impression of a paradise long lost. The birds sang as they swooped low, playing a game of midair tag. From a parting in the trees, I saw a lone falcon circling the air, its large brown wings still as it rose and duck, disappearing from sight as I walked on. In the distance, I heard the crash of a waterfall and followed the sound. I pushed the large ferns out of the way as I stepped into the clearing. A large rock outcrop loomed above me, jutting out from the side of the mountain as if it were pulled out by a giant. From the top of the outcropping, a large fountain of water hurled itself like a sacrifice towards the basin and flowed out through a small stream. The clearing was surrounded by a thick foliage of trees, hiding me from sight, the crash of the water so deafening, it hid me from sound too. I often came here, dubbing it Mini Niagara the first time I had seen it. I sat down on a low rock and started to undo the laces of my boots. Once my feet were bare, I stood in the water, thigh deep and trailed my fingers in the cool, blue water.
Once I had left the water and put on my socks and boots, I left the clearing to return to my hike. I headed north, wanting to go deeper in the forest and higher up the mountain. I swatted a few bugs as I walked, their buzzing a monotonous ring in my ears. I hiked higher up the mountain, gravity taking effect as I sat down to light a cigarette and have a drink of water. I dragged on my cigarette as I watched a small brown snake slither off into the bush. After a few moments, I heard voices coming from the left. Deep laughter rang out through the trees and played gently on my eardrums. I stopped to greet the other hikers, wanting to enjoy a moment or two of the company of other forest lovers. I began to walk towards the sound of chatter and I found the source. There sat four couples from what I could tell, all resting as they ate sandwiches and drank from water bottles. One of the boys, a rugged blonde haired behemoth with pale blue eyes, spotted me and let a wide, perfect tooth grin spread across his somewhat handsome face.
"Güten täg," he greeted with a smirk. The others all turned their heads towards me, two with smiles, two without, the other boy was too focused on his sandwich, just staring at it.
"Bonjour, mademoiselle, " said a beautiful brown haired boy. The girl opposite him gave me a friendly smile and a wiggle of her perfectly manicured fingers.
"Um, hi," was all I could say as I stood there awkwardly. "I'm Artemis. "
"I am Hans," said the German. "This ees Greta und zey are Pierre, Don, Lordes, Mila, Isabela und Demitri. " As soon as he said the last name, the boy with the black hair looked up and he's look of shock matched mine.
"Prevait," he greeted in Russian. I gave a small wave and blushed.
"Izvinitye, das verdanya," I said quickly in Russian as I stepped backwards.
"No, no, please stay," Hans said quickly, starting to get up but Demitri beat him to it.
"Please, join us," he said, his thick accent blending his words. I considered it for a moment, but quickly shook my head.
"I, uh, have to get going," I stammered, catching myself as my foot caught on a root.
"Then allow me to ezcort you beck, " Demitri said. My mouth hung agape and I tried to think of an excuse but he was already saying goodbye to the group and packing his things. Within a minute, he was by my side and leading me away from the group.
"So, are you part of the Foreign Exchange Program? " I asked him, my eyes glued to the cigarette I now had in my hand, the other was shoved deep in my pocket. He didn't complain when I lit it, instead he pulled out a box of thick, black cigarettes rimmed with gold. "Now dees ees a real cigarette, " he joked as he lit it with a gold lighter engraved with the initials D.I.
"Yes, I wanted to see what America was like," he said. "I must say, zoh, you're forests are not as beeg as ze ones beck home." He pulled heavily on his cigarette, allowing the smoke to pour from his mouth, reminding me of Mini Niagara.
"I have always wanted to go to Russia, " I said softly as we walked. I stopped to put out my cigarette and put it in the pocket of my bag. He didn't respond to my spoken thought, instead he stared at me from under his thick black lashes. I noticed that his long black hair was tied at the nape of his neck, falling in a long, straight line down his back. I ached to touch it, but I kept my hands firmly planted in my pockets.
"Do you go to zeh Rodgers school?" he asked. I realized he was just looking for conversation topics, probably feeling as awkward as I was.
"Yeah, I, uh, I do, " I said as I kicked a small rock. I looked at him, peeking from under my lashes. He was beautiful, and very, very muscular. He loomed over me and blocked the sun, seemingly filling up every single bit of space. Though a bit claustrophobic, it was comforting. We stopped a little way from the waterfall and I stepped away.
"I have to get going, I have homework, " I said.
"Will I see you tomorrow? " he asked with a hopeful smile.
"Maybe," I replied before walking back towards my house. I heard a small chuckle and a deep voice whispering "I look forward to that maybe."
I smiled and when I looked back over my shoulder and saw him doing the same as he walked.
As I walked through the back door, I glanced at the clock and got a surprise. I had been gone for five hours, yet it only felt like one. I guess time really does fly when you're having fun, I thought as Demitri popped into my head. He was good looking, a gentleman too, and he spoke Russian. As I thought about him, I didn't realize I had sighed. I quickly shook my head and tried to change my train of thought, but no matter what, I couldn't stop thinking of him. I went to the kitchen and made myself a cup of sweet coffee, anything to keep my mind busy. As I made the coffee, I loaded a bundle of clothes into the washing machine and started it. Unfortunately, that only kept my hands busy. I poured boiling water into my cup, stirring milk in as I did. My mind was racing but it was all focused on that damn boy. No, not boy, he is all man, I thought.
"Ugh, get out of my head!" I shouted at myself. It hasn't even been twenty minutes and I'm already obsessing over him. I sighed deeply and went to my room, getting my handbag and shoving a box of cigarettes and a lighter in. I stomped down the stairs and grabbed my car keys from the dish before writing a note on the white board hanging by the door: Mom, gone to the beach, will be back soon, Arti.
I drove quickly, needing to just get somewhere I could be alone. I was acting like a lovesick teen from a chickflick, it was embarrassing. I stopped at a Burger King drive through, my stomach growling from not eating all day. Thankfully, the line was short and I got my food quickly before driving to the shore.
I parked and sat in my car, golden oldies playing on high and eating my burger. I watched a couple walk hand in hand, the girl in a shorts and tied up brown Led Zeppelin shirt and short black hair, the boy a complete opposite with blonde hair and a blue soccer shirt and jeans. I smiled as they walked, though I was confused when the girl fiddled with her wrist before throwing something into the beating waves. Perhaps a coin for good luck, I thought. I watched as a dog ran into the sea and emerged wet and excited. The forest may have been my haven, but the ocean was my relaxation. I sung along to Diamonds Are A Girls Best Friend by Marilyn Monroe and enjoyed the peace of the moment. Finally, when I felt normal and relaxed, I started the car and drove home, the setting sun in my rear view mirror.
I sat in bed, my laptop spread across my lap as I typed an essay for the life cycle of the Western Leopard toad, which was due tomorrow. At last I had finished, copying it to a memory stick and switching off my laptop. I shoved my laptop under the bed and clicked off my bedside lamp, snuggling down into the thick covers and closing my eyes. I thought about the couple on the beach, imagining what it would be like if I were in her place.
The last thing I remember thinking before I fell asleep was: I need to see him again...
Vote and comment :) xxx
Tell me what you all think of Demitri and how Artemis reacted!
This chapter is dedicated to my boyfriend Ryan, for being with me from that first day on the beach ❤
